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Randy White:  We’re Making a Comeback, Baby!

Orginally published on Wednesday, August 27, 2008 at 6:27 AM
by Todd Rhoades

According to an article on TampaBay.com, Pastor Randy White says that Without Walls Church is making a comeback: "We're coming back stronger...It's not rhetoric, but it's reality. The God we serve is the God of a second chance."

According to the website, "It has been arguably the toughest year in the 17-year history of Without Walls International Church, once the largest church in Florida and the fastest-growing congregation in the country.

A year ago this month, its founders announced they were divorcing. Three months later, a U.S. senator launched a federal inquiry into the church's finances. Some 50 percent of the 22,000-member congregation left in the aftermath, dragging collections down by half."

Even more interesting, I find, are some of the other things Randy has done recently to make this 'comeback' a reality:

According to the article:

1.  Earlier this summer, Randy blocked the Internet broadcast of church services within a 60-mile radius of the ministry’s Grady Avenue campus. White said he took the step to encourage “lazy Christians” to come to church.  (I didn’t know you could block out your internet service like this… kind of like an MLB blackout when there are still seats available).  Sorry, Randy, but “lazy Christians” don’t just NOT come to church; they also don’t listen to your internet broadcast.

2.  In the past year, Randy merged two services into one; then directed staff members to remove 500 chairs from the sanctuary because they still weren’t being used.  Randy’s reasoning:  White said he needed to ease the strain of preaching TWICE because of his personal crises.

3.  Randy said the church is taking steps to attract new members, many of whom don’t know the recent history.  I wonder, how could ANYONE in Lakeland, or all of Florida NOT know about the recent history?  That must be one targeted marketing campaign.

4.  Other signs of a comeback:  New services, like an expanded coffeeshop, and valet parking.  What?  Valet?  I’m SO there!

5.  Another ‘positive’ sign:  Randy’s ex-wife will now return to preach at Without Walls once a month.

6.  Finally, according to the article:  Randy has ‘put mirrors along the side walls of the sanctuary, a move intended to lighten the dark atmosphere in preparation for a return to a weekly television broadcast.’ One word:  Brilliant!

I think there may be a book here somewhere.  “How Your Church Can Make a Comeback”

Sorry for the sarcasm folks… it’s just that I can’t make this stuff up!

You can read the whole article here...

Your thoughts?

Todd


This post has been viewed 1786 times so far.


  There are 19 Comments:

  • Posted by

    It is “celebrichurches” like this that give megachurches a bad name. Perhaps Randy (and Paula) should have taken some time off for counsel and discipline under some Godly men and women, but that would mean that they would be out of the limelight. Do many of the church attendees there come for the show or to praise and serve God?
    Sure, bring back Paula to fill the seats. Kind of like reunion tours for old bands whose members can’t stand each other.
    I can’t help but feel that any Godly work this church does is secondary to feeding the egos (and bank accounts) of Randy and Paula.
    I hate being so negative at this hour of the morning, but seeing someone publicly thumbing their nose at God steams me!

  • Posted by Andy Wood

    The mirrors thing works at one of our (many) Mexican restaurants.  I always think I’m in a crowd of hundreds (translated that to thousands in the church) when I’m just looking at my neighbors twice.

    It’s all about the appearances, I guess.

  • Posted by

    It took me awhile but now I understand Todd and MMI a little better.  It’s not that “discernment” or criticism is frowned upon.  It’s “discernment” and crticism within the camp that is off limits.  Other camps are free game.  If your a charismatic, pentecostal, frequent TBN or are a “watchdoggie” your open to Todd’s and others sarcasm here.

  • Posted by Todd Rhoades

    JOB,

    Wow… you’re on to me.

    If Rick Warren combined services and took out chairs and said he was growing, I’d write about it.

    If Granger put mirrors up on the wall to make it look like there were more people (when there weren’t), I would blog about it.

    And if Andy Stanley divorced his wife, then asked her to come back to speak once a month to help pump attendance, I’d bargain to say that I’d write about that here too.

    There was nothing theologically discerning about this post.  You’re the one, JOB, who brought up anything about ‘camps’ and theological discernment.

    No, JOB, you don’t really get me at all.  If you read further here at MMI; you’ll find that I don’t shy away from talking and writing about things that I think need to be written about.

    You’ll notice:  I didn’t call Randy White a heretic; or any other number of names that many other websites use.

    Read on, my friend.  Sorry… but on second thought… you really DON’T get me.  smile

  • Posted by

    My mama always said if you can’t say something nice don’t say anything at all…

    Leonard Lee - I out!

  • Posted by

    Leonard,
    I don’t recall Jesus saying that?

    ---"Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!”
    ---"Woe unto you, ye blind guides....”
    ---"Ye fools and blind....”
    ---”...ye are like unto whited sepulchers....”
    ---"Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers....”
    fishon

  • Posted by

    That is why I did not attribute the quote to Jesus… Because it was my mama.  Thanks for clarifying the origin for me though, I appreciate it.  If I were to quote Jesus I would have used the pearls before swine… that is one of my favorites.

  • Posted by Don Railey

    If you add some ‘smoke’ with those mirrors, then you will have a new definition of “smoke and mirrors”!  A made for TV soap opera!

  • Posted by

    Well I’m glad to hear that the church in itslef is doing good, but personally I think Randy should have taken some time off as Sr. Pastor to allow the church tro heal from it’s blow of celeb preachers dramatized lifestyles.

    Bro Todd I read almost everything you write and I don’t see you being partial to any one camp. You just tell it like it is. And personally I enjoy the subtle sarcasm… Keep up the good work. Love MMI

  • Posted by Bill Connell

    Forgive me for this shallow response, but I am still trying to figure what holds the roof up at Church Without Walls.

  • Posted by PK

    As one from the afore mentioned “camp” I welcome honest assessment. It’s high time we embraced honesty as a core value. I’ve read this blog for a couple of years now and have found it to be a valuable source of good objective info. I relate to the soft sarcasm as an effective communication tool and welcome it as a “gift” restored back to church for end time ministry.

  • Posted by

    1.  Blocking your internet broadcast will only make “lazy Christians” turn to another broadcast.  Besides, not everyone that watches on t.v. or Internet is a lazy Christian.  Some may be seekers or the truly sick and shut-in.  I’d reconsider this move if I were him (not that I’m advocating his ministry--which I’m NOT!).

    2.  The strain of preaching twice??  That’s what sabbaticals are for.

    3.  He wants the people’s focus to be on Christ and not him, yet his sermon texts (or at least the one mentioned in the article) point to him and his troubles.  Little hard to focus on Jesus when every sermon points to self.

    4.  Kudos to the former members who chose not to comment but rather “preferred to move on”.  That’s best.  5.  Paula preaching there once a month??  If they can get along well enough for her to be in his pulpit, why couldn’t they salvage their marriage?  Just another dysfunctional relationship flaunted before the Church that will make it easier for people to get a divorce and just go on as if everything’s okay.

  • I am excited that Brother Randy is finally making a come back despite his personal setbacks.  God is good.  Another interesting thing I might add is that Sister Paula will be making monthly visits.  That is a blessing.  I guess things were not as bad as we thought. 

    Lord forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

  • Posted by

    This was a very interesting article.  However, it just reinforced my frustration as a part time staff pastor and a believer, that we’re so busy DOING church, that we aren’t HAVING church.  I’m glad that Without Walls is doing well, but I have to say that is a commentary on the congregation, as much as it is on the pastor.  My sister’s church recently removed their pastor as the result of an extra-marital affair.  Are they hurt and disappointed?  Sure.  But the core is strong and they are all still together.  The church should be about the people in it, more than the person leading it!

  • Posted by

    Coming back to what? More Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?

  • Posted by

    My first response was “Sick.”

    Really, this is a very unhealthy group in my opinion.

  • Posted by Lisa Johns

    Bill, forget the roof, without walls what do they owe all that money for?
    Thanks for bringing some levity to such a sad situation for that church and the Church.  Imagine how many people won’t trust Jesus because of the way Christians have behaved untrustworthy.
    Todd, I appreciate your bringing situations like this to my attention to remind me the consequences of getting off track.  And I appreciate your delivering it in a fun way.

  • Posted by Diane Karchner

    I can’t even imagine what it must be like to lose a child to cancer; nor can I imagine the heartbreak of divorce. I have no idea what’s happening with the loan - who is right and who is wrong (always two sides to every story!) - but I do know that grief and loss brings a change of heart - I lost my sister to cancer this year, and I am sure that I am not the same - I am wounded, hurt, and sad. I will pray that your grief will be softened, by the forgiveness you will show to others through the power of the name you preach for - Jesus. He’s the only one who can help.

  • Welcome Back…

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